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I’ve decided to start adding my academic papers to my blog. It’s only been a couple of posts since I talked about returning to college, and now I’m only one semester away from getting my degree. It’s been a wonderful and life-changing experience, and I’ve decided to continue on in grad school. I couldn’t have succeeded without the wonderful support of my family and friends.

So, anyway, the first paper I’ll be adding is called “From Prophet to Propagandist to Penitent: The Great War and H.G. Wells.” Written for my Europe of the World Wars class, I wanted to take a more literary approach to the First World War and when I read about Wells’s and other prominent British authors involvement with war time propaganda, that was the story I wanted to tell. All the sources will have footnotes.

This news is very exciting. The Mars Trilogy is one of my favorite series and would make a great multi-season television show. Robinson’s characterization is top notch and much of the political and sociological plots in the books will speak well to today’s audiences. I don’t have an opinion on it being on SpikeTV, according to the article they’re adding more scripted shows to their line-up, which can only be a good thing. I hope it’s only a matter of time when the flood of reality television is mopped up with well-written drama/comedy. Either way, I’m really looking forward to this.

The campus library has a quiet room. You would think that sounds recursive but apparently I’m old-school. The young lady who’d previously did an online catalog search to find where they kept the dictionaries told me it was upstairs.

On the upside, I have discovered not only the salad bar but the Starbucks. So things even out.

Of course, I’m currently sitting in my quiet car eating a grilled cheese sandwich, which goes to show that discoveries are not always timely.

I decided to spend this dreary day doing administrative things for my upcoming semester. I’ve been out of school for many, many years so I had a rude awakening when I realized the glacial pace that academic administration moves. So taken aback I was, I even posted on Facebook about it.

Don’t judge me for using “glacial” in both places. When you find a word that works. Use it. See “Crapola”

The parking permit was a bust. I don’t like waiting in line, so I like to get things done early and get on with my life. Preventing new students from getting their permits until the days before classes start creates lines. Blah.

The bookstore was better. Even in various stages of disarray, I was able to find the books I needed for three out of four classes. I went the “Used” route, as they were there and I’m trying to get shit done. Also, I’m the asshole that picks through all the used books to find the ones without highlighting or underlining. I mean, you never know who had those before – they could totally be gas-lighting you with their highlighter.

The class I couldn’t get books for was “Genre Studies: 20th Century Science Fiction.” It’s a pretty good list: Around the World in 80 Days, Best of H.P. Lovecraft, Ender’s Game, Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, Island of Dr. Moreau, Sandman Vol. 2, Watchmen and the Science Fiction Hall of Fame, Vol. 1. I’ve read some of those (Hitchhiker’s more than once) and will be glad to read the rest, but I have this strange stitch in my side when there are books I want (need) and I can’t get them.

I was able to leave with Art through the Ages, Vol E (for Art History), American Literature Vols 1 and 2 (for American Lit), Literary Criticism, Fathers and Children and The Cripple of Inishmaan (for Literary Crit) and a Pocket Style Manual that I grabbed from the English 101 book stack. I’m not entirely sure I should have done that, but nothing I can do now. It’s MINE!

The Buying of the Books is a ritual for me – an maybe for many other students – when the reality of the semester bears down (Go Golden Bears!) and the work of the next few months becomes real. The Purchasing of the Permit would have sealed the deal in my mind, but for now, I’m still hanging in the wind with a bag full of books, not fully “official.”

Note: I’ll be adding these books to my 100 Books in 2014 Challenge page, not because they count toward the challenge (they don’t) but because I want to document (for myself) everything I’m reading this year.